Lord Meghnad Desai of British of Idea Global during his meeting with Chief Minister Narendra Modi here expressed his willingness to partner Gujarat Government in its efforts to face challenges in Climate Change.

The idea was struck in a meeting between the state government and the British firm Idea Global, engaged in financing climate projects in energy and carbon market, for exploring new vistas for co-operation.

The Gujarat Government is the fourth government in the world to have started an independent separate department of climate change with a view to reducing pollution, conserving energy, getting carbon credits and developing solar and wind power. Lord Meghnad Desai and other officials from Idea Global were impressed by Gujarat’s video presentation.

Welcoming the Idea Global willingness to provide professional expertise, Mr. Modi talked about the government’s pilot project for implementing the ambitious solid waste management and waste water treatment to convert 50 urban centres in the state as ‘green and clean’ cities to earn carbon credits.

The other project is to convert the existing coal-based power plants into gas-fired plants, besides developing solar and wind energy, organic farming for bringing about qualitative improvement in the lives of the people. The Kalpsar Project across the Gulf of Cambay to reduce distance between Mumbai and Bhavnagar by 200 km is another ambitious project.

Mr. Modi also expressed his government’s preparedness to start professional courses to develop human resources in new fields.

The meeting was attended by Climate Change Secretary Dr Rajivkumar Gupta and Chief Minister’s Secretary A.K. Sharma, among others.